Switch-throwing device.



P. H. PETERSEN. SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

Y LPPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 19,1908. 91 7,652. Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

2 SHEETS SHEE-T 2- I avmxmkoz w ptmeooao PETER HANSEN PETERSEN, OF LEAD,SOUTH DAKOTA.

SWITCH-THROWING DE VICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Application filed September 19, 1908. Serial No. 453,870.

T 0 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, PETER HANSEN Pn'rnn SEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lead city, in the county of Lawrence and State ofSouth Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSwitclr Throwing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in switch throwing devices, and theobject of my invention is to provide a simple, gravity operated switchthrow which can be set by the motorman or engine driver without leavinghis cab.

My invention is specially applicable to mine and mill tracks wheretrains are hauled by motors, or where motor trains and hand trucks usethe same tracks, but it is not restricted to this use.

lVit-h this object in view, my invention consists in the constructionand combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a. side View of my improvedswitch throwing device. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, taken at rightangles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the bars adapted toengage one of the switch rails. Fig. l is a cross section thereof. Fig.5 is a side view of the operating weight, and Fig. 6 is a cross sectionthereof.

a represents the stand, usually of wood, on which the operating partsare mounted and secured to the brace b by means of angle plates 0. Nearthe lower end of the stand a is mounted a plate d, provided with a bracec, in which plate is mounted a pivot f, carrying the bell crank lever g.The lower arm of this lever has pivotally attached to it an arm h,carrying curved plates 2', which are adapted to engage the switch rails.The upper arm of the bell crank lever g has pivotally attached to it abent bar j, which is secured by a bolt k to the parallel plates at and71.. These plates are approximately triangular in shape and carry neartheir upper end a roller 0, which acts as a stop for the gravity lever.The plate a has also bolted to it near its lower edge a bent metal stop79.

The plates at and n are bolted together, and both are supported on abolt 0, passing through a plate 7 on the stand a, which plate isprovided with a supporting bracket 8.

The plates at and n are fastened to the bolt and on this bolt is looselymounted one end of a gravity lever 25, which carries an adjustableweight a, which consists of two similar shaped, but oppositely arrangedhalves, as shown in Fig. 6, and united by a bolt which passes throughsaid weight and one of the holes o in the lever t. The brace s limitsthe movement of the plates m and n in one direction, one of the boltsconnecting these plates striking said brace, and it limits it in theother direction by means of the bar j striking thereagainst.

The operation is'as follows :The motorman or engine driver comes up tothe switch and, if necessary, throws the lever arm 6 up, so that itrests against the roller 0. If the motor or engine does not prevent, theweight on the lever arm if will then move the parts from the positionshown in full lines on Fig. 2 to that shown in dotted lines, thusthrowing the switch. Similarly, to reverse the switch, the arm t islifted from the position shown in dotted lines, until it strikes againstthe stop 2), when the weight will carry the parts back to the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 2, if there is nothing to prevent. ll hentrailing a switch, the points will always, no matter for which trackthey are set, adjust themselves after the last car has passed over them.Thus no injury to the switch or derailment of the train can take place.The motorman or engine driver can throw the lever to set the switch foreither track while the motor is passing over the points. This does awaywith the necessity for a switchman or extra trainman. hen coming up to afacing switch,.should the switch be placed wrong, the motor runs up tothe throw, adjusts it to suit, and then moves off the points, whereuponthe weighted lever automatically adjusts the switch to the new anddesired position, whereupon the motor goes through the switch in thedesired direction. Either a trailing or a facing switch can thus beoperated by the motorman, without having to move from his seat. Thechances of a misplaced switch are considerably reduced, as the switchpoints will always adjust themselves should a train or single car runthrough the switch.

From the description shown, it will be noticed that out of six possiblelines of travel between three points, one being the switch itself, andthe other two being on the main and side tracks, respectively, it isonly necessary to operate the switch throw twice, as

in other positions no operation by the motorman or engine driver will beneeded. I

I claim 1. In a switch throwing device, the combination of a stand, aplate provided with stops pivotally mounted thereon, a weighted leverpivotally mounted on said stand, connections between said plate and theswitch rails, and means carried by said stand to limit the movement ofsaid plate and said lever in either direction, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a switch throwing device, the com bination of a stand, a bracketsecured thereto, a bolt mounted in said bracket and stand, a plateprovided with stops, mounted on said bolt, a weighted lever pivotallymounted on said bolt, and connections between said plate and the switchrails, to operate the latter, substantially as described.

3. In a switch throwing device, the combination of a stand, a bracketsecured thereto, a bolt passing through said bracket and into saidstand, a pair of parallel plates pivotally mounted on said bolt, saidplates being provided with stops, a weighted lever pivotally mounted onsaid bolt between said plates, and connections between said plates andthe switch rails, to operate the latter, substantially as described.

4. In a switch throwing device, the combination of a stand, a bracketsecured thereto, a bolt passing through said bracket and into saidstand, a pair of plates pivotally gage the stops on said plates, andconnections A between said plates and the switch rails for operating thelatter, substantially as described.

5. In a switch throwing device, the combination of a supporting stand, abent bracket secured thereto, a bolt passing through the upper end ofsaid bracket and into said stand, a pair of parallel plates mounted onsaid bolt and adapted to revolve thereon, said plates being boltedtogether and provided with stops, a pivoted lever mounted on said boltbetween said plates and adapted to engage said stops, a weightadjustably secured to said lever, and connections between said platesand the switch rails for operatil'ig the latter, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

PETER HANSEN PETERSEN.

itnesses ALEX. J. M. Ross,

ARTHUR M. PETERSEN.

